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Toxic chemicals: the group that's totally out to save your skin

Toxic
chemicals are everywhere. We breathe them in, we ingest them, we rub them on
our skin, we wash our clothes and hair in them, we brush our teeth with them, we spray them on our wrists and necks and most worryingly – we feed them to our vulnerable unborn babies through our placentas when we're pregnant.

Until now, there has been little
regulation on companies producing these chemicals. The onus has been on
scientists and health researchers to prove they’re not safe, as opposed to the
onus being on the chemical companies to prove they are safe.

Should be the other way around, don't ya think?

Health
experts around the world believe toxic chemicals are responsible for many of today’s
health problems, including endocrine and autoimmune disorders, cancer, and an alarming
rise in neurodevelopment disorders in children, who may be particularly
vulnerable either in the womb or as infants.

But
exciting news is emerging from the US. The New York Times recently reported a coalition
of scientists, doctors, health experts and environmental organisations is running a world-first campaign to reduce our chemical load.

The
group published a statement in the scientific journal Environmental Health
Perspectives saying we, as a society, should be able to take protective action
when scientific evidence indicates a chemical is potentially toxic – without
having to wait for unequivocal proof.

It’s a great sign
that change is afoot and an issue that is close to our hearts at Mukti Organics
is finally being taken seriously.

You know when the US
President starts making moves that things are hotting up. President Obama
recently signed into law an overhaul of America’s 40-year-old toxic chemical
rules. The update to the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act subjects 64,000
existing chemicals to eventual safety testing.

But – and it's a big BUT – only 20
chemicals will be tested at a time, with a deadline of seven years per
chemical. Which is a snail’s pace, especially when we’re talking about our
health and the health of our children.

Also, the new law
doesn’t cover pesticides ised in food production – a big disappointment, as food is one of the main ways our children are exposed to toxic
chemicals.

Top toxic chemicals to avoid

The
chemicals singled out by the coalition are widely used, and manufacturers and
some experts say more research is needed to demonstrate they have harmful
effects. They include:

Organophosphate pesticides: In one study, women who were
pregnant when they lived near areas where these pesticides were in use
were up to three times more likely to have a child who developed autism or
other developmental disorders. This doesn’t show a cause-and-effect
relationship, but a potential connection that warrants more investigation.

Flame Retardants: Used
in fabric and
upholstery padding, plastic casings for televisions and computers and baby
products. A major source of exposure is household dust, which can
accumulate with residue from treated products. Some studies have
associated these toxic chemicals with low IQ levels and hyperactivity in
children.

Lead: Still found in old homes and
pipes, where it leeches into water. No level of lead exposure is safe.

Phthalates: As we blogged about here, phthalates are used in plastic wrapping, kids’ toys, cosmetics and
skincare products and building materials. They cross the placenta during
pregnancy and have been linked to attention deficits in children,
disruption of the endocrine system, liver damage, birth defects, decreased
sperm counts and early breast development in boys and girls.

Here's the scary part: Studies show almost all American women
have these toxic chemicals circulating in their bodies during pregnancy. The majority of Australian women were found to have BPA in their urine in a 2011 study by Dr Anna Callan and published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. It's thought prenatal exposure to BPA can cause behavioural issues and hyperactivity.

With the increasing body of scientific knowledge about the effects of the many thousands of toxic chemicals we're coming into daily contact with, it's heartening to see the Project Tendr getting the ball rolling on holding the chemical manufacturing companies accountable.

Let's hope the repercussions are felt very soon in Australia. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to limit your exposure to some of the worst toxic chemicals.

How
to Limit Your Exposure to Toxic Chemicals – From The New York Times, "A Call To Action on Toxic Chemicals"

Take shoes off
before you come into the house and use a doormat to trap dirt outside and
inside the doorway.

Damp mop, use a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner and dust
with a microfibre cloth.

Tell us what you think. Should the chemical industry have to prove the chemicals they expose us and our children to are safe before they're allowed onto the market? Leave a comment below and go into our bi-monthly draw to with a selection of Mukti Organics products.

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Hi, I'm Mukti, the founder and creator of Mukti Organics. My aim is to assist you in achieving beautiful, radiant skin without using products containing toxic chemicals. Certified organic skin care is better for you, your family and our planet. Click here to sign up and receive 15% off your first order. Signing up and commenting on our blog posts enters you into our bimonthly draw to receive $150 worth of products of your choice.